Israel SitRep: October 28, 2024

Today’s Issue: | Israeli Defense Ministry Signs $535 Million Order to Expand Production of Iron Beam | IDF Continues Operations in Northern, Central, and Southern Gaza, Including Evacuating Civilians to Safe Areas | IDF Completes Raid on Hamas at Kamal Adwan Hospital | IDF Troops in Southern Lebanon Seize Hezbollah Weapons, Destroy Hezbollah Bunkers | Latest FDD Analysis

Israeli Defense Ministry Signs $535 Million Order to Expand Production of Iron Beam: The Israeli Defense Ministry announced on Monday that on Sunday, it signed an order to expand production of Iron Beam, the high-energy laser weapon system. The deal, worth 2 billion shekels ($535 million), was signed with Israeli defense technology company Rafael, the main developer of the system, and the Israeli defense technology company Elbit Systems. Defense Ministry Director General Maj. Gen. Eyal Zamir stated that since the war began, the ministry has signed hundreds of orders worth billions of shekels “to strengthen blue and white [Israeli] manufacturing independence and to build the IDF’s strength,” adding: “We made it our main objective to reduce independence on outside actors and to strengthen Israeli industry.” In addition, Zamir said, “The Iron Beam deal is one of the most important we have signed, since it heralds the start of a new era in the battlefield — the laser era.” The system is expected to be operational a year from now.

IDF Continues Operations in Northern, Central, and Southern Gaza, Including Evacuating Civilians to Safe Areas: In Gaza, troops from the 252nd Division are carrying out targeted raids in the center of the strip and have killed a number of terrorists and demolished a military building. In Rafah in southern Gaza, Nahal Brigade troops, operating under the Gaza Division, have eliminated armed men and destroyed terrorist infrastructures in the past day. The soldiers spotted a terrorist in a booby-trapped building near them, and called in an airstrike, killing him. The 162nd Division is continuing operations in Jabalya in northern Gaza and has eliminated dozens of terrorists in ground fighting and through airstrikes in the past day. The IDF says that troops are also continuing efforts to evacuate civilians to safe areas, despite attempts by Hamas to prevent them from leaving. Troops have also demolished tunnel shafts and found a large quantity of weapons.

IDF Completes Raid on Hamas at Kamal Adwan Hospital: On Monday, the IDF announced that the 162nd Division and the Shin Bet raided a Hamas stronghold in Kamal Adwan Hospital in northern Gaza’s Jabalya after receiving intelligence that terrorists were inside. According to the announcement, before the raid, civilians were allowed to leave, and dozens of terrorists attempted to flee when troops entered. Soldiers found weapons and money for terrorist financing inside and around the hospital, as well as documents belonging to Hamas. The troops arrested terrorists, including some who participated in the October 7 attacks. The IDF also published a video with English subtitles from the interrogation of a Gaza man who says he was a driver and paramedic at the Al-Ahli and Kamal Adwan Hospitals. Asked about Hamas’s presence in Kamal Adwan, the man stated: “Hamas military operatives are present; they are in the courtyards at the gates of the buildings, in the offices … of Kamal Adwan Hospital. They operate ambulances to transport their wounded military operatives and to transport them for their missions, and this is instead of using the ambulances for the benefit of civilians.” He added: “We, the public in the northern Gaza Strip … have had enough; they [Hamas] are stationed in the hospitals, stationed in the schools.”

IDF Troops in Southern Lebanon Seize Hezbollah Weapons, Destroy Hezbollah Bunkers: On Monday, the IDF reported on activity in southern Lebanon, noting that troops from the 91st Division are continuing to seize Hezbollah weapons and attack terrorist infrastructures. In the past day, the soldiers spotted a squad of terrorists near a military building and called in an airstrike, eliminating them. Troops from the 146th Division are destroying bunkers which Hezbollah operatives were using for attacks on Israeli forces. Israeli Air Force fighter jets have struck dozens of terror targets, including a launcher from which projectiles were being fired at Israel, and eliminated dozens of terrorists in the past day. On Sunday, the IDF announced that Ahmed Jafar Maatouk, Hezbollah’s commander of the Bint Jbeil area, was killed in an Israeli Air Force airstrike, and the next day, his successor, as well as the head of artillery for Hezbollah in the Bint Jbeil area, were eliminated as well. According to the announcement, the three directed numerous terrorist attacks targeting Israeli soldiers in southern Lebanon and Israeli civilians, including with anti-tank missiles.

Latest FDD Analysis:

Today at 8:30am (ET): “FDD Morning Brief,” featuring Bradley Bowman and Dana Stroul, FDD Event

“Decolonize Lebanon,” Clifford D. May, Hussain Abdul-Hussain, and David Daoud, FDD’s Foreign Podicy

“Israel Retaliates Against Iran Regime with Precision Strikes,” Mark Dubowitz, FDD Policy Brief

“Despite Pressure From Washington, Israel Considers Curtailing UNRWA,” Enia Krivine, FDD Policy Brief

“MBS Bets on Egypt’s Fragile Economy,” Mariam Wahba, FDD Policy Brief

“Hamas Commander Employed by UNRWA Who Participated in October 7 Massacre Eliminated in IDF Strike,” FDD Experts, FDD Flash Brief

“At Least Two Killed in Hezbollah Rocket Attack on Israeli Arab Town,” FDD Experts, FDD Flash Brief

“Israeli Delegation Will Travel to Qatar for Renewed Talks on Hostages Held by Hamas,” FDD Experts, FDD Flash Brief

“One Year On, Israel Mourns October 7 While War Losses Mount,” FDD Experts, FDD Flash Brief

“Israel Demolishes Massive Hezbollah Underground Bunker in Southern Lebanon,” FDD Experts, FDD Flash Brief

“Israel Responds to Iranian Missile Attacks, Targeting Military Sites,” FDD Experts, FDD Flash Brief